Tube support



TUBE SUPPORT med June 27, 1925 lNVENTOR WITNESSES:

Dona/0 6f Lf/f/e Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD a. LITTLE, or WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 3T0 wnsrmenousn ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or rmmsyn- VAN IA.

TUBE SUPPORT.

This invention relates to vacuum-tube devices of the type used in oscillation generators and particularly to means for supporting the tubes and securing them in place.

It is an object of this invention to provide a supporting device'by means of which the tubes may be handled and mounted more safely and expeditiously.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a'guiding -1neans which will enable the tube, and the plate to which it is secured, to be inserted in the apparatus without danger of accident to the tube.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a vacuum-tube plate with securing and supporting devices, which shall be siln 1e, casi y get out of order, and shall prevent all tendency of the tube to rock upon its suport.

P Other objects of the invention and details of the construction will be evident from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of my tube and its support;

Fig.2 is a top plan view, and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modification.

The apparatus in which oscillations are developed for high-power radio-sending stations includes a frame upon which the several parts are mounted. Among said parts are a number of vacuum tubes. In Fig. 1, the frame is indicated by two members 1 shown in section. These members carry insulators 2, u on the upper ends of which screw-threade are provided.

The plate 4 is preferably of sheet-metal, heavy enough to have the necessaryrigidity. Preferably, it is of cast aluminum, but plates of heavy sheet brass have been used with satisfactory results. The plate is of such shape that a central portion is large enough to accommodate one or several tubes. Its end portions project far enough beyond the tubes to position them at a distance from the insulators 2 and from the members of the frame.

At one end, the plate is provided with a longitudinally-extending notch or recess 5 having its mouth at the end of the plate. The inner end of this recess fits the engaging member 3. The mouth of the recess is inexpensive to'manufacture, will not P flared in order'that the plate may be readily positioned with the notch embracing the engaging member. I

At the opposite end of the plate, a recess or notch 6 extends at right angles thereto. The mouth of the notch 6 is in one side of the plate near the end. The engaging members 3 are provided with wing nuts 7 or other clamping means. If desired, these nuts may serve as'binding posts to attach conductors such as 8.

The center of the plate is provided with one or more circular openings 11, one for each tube that the plate is intended to support. Each of the openings is larger than the glass cylindrical part 12 of its tube, but not enough larger to permit the seal 13 to ass. This seal contains the conductor which extends to the grid of the tube. It is preferable that it be on the side of the tube and not at the end where the other conductors 14 emerge. In order to permit the tube to be inserted in the plate without danger of striking the seal 13 against the plate, recess 15 is provided.

In the case of very large tubes, the seal 13 may extend so far that,- in order to leave ample room for manipulating the tube, the recess 15 is prolonged into a passage 16 shown in Fig. 3 which extends completelyto the outer edge of the plate. When this is the case, the plate 4 must be made heavy enough to afford ample support for the tubes even though the continuity of one or more edges of the plate is broken.

The tubes used in connection with highpower oscillators are provided with a water 20. At the lower end, the water jacket is provided with a flange 22 which contacts with a metal member 23. The member 23 is electrically a part of the plate or anode of the tube. A number of bolts 24 extend through the flange 22 and the metal member 23, clamping them together to make a watertight joint. Preferably, the joint 'is supplied with a gasket of rubber or other suitable packing material to prevent leakage.

The bolts 24 extend below the member 23 distances, which, because of irregularities of manufacture, will not be equal. In order to avoid the unsatisfactory seating, of the tube which would ensue from this inequality, opening 11 is large enough to permit the ends of the bolts to pass below the upper engaging members 3 jacket 18 having an inlet 19 and an outlet I In order that the pressure of the clamping surfaceof the plate 4. Inwardly projecting lugs 25 provide ample bearing surface for the member 23.

Twoor more threaded studs 26 are provided for each tube, by means of which the tubes may be clamped to the plate 4 and 00d electrical connection thus provided etween the .member 23 and the lugs 25. Members 27 transmit to the flange 22 the pressure necess'ary'to ensure firm clam ing and good electrical contact. The mem rs 27 are long enough to extend from the studs 26 nearly to the inner edge of theflange 22.

Ample bearing surface between theunembers 27 and the flange is thus provided.

member 27 may be delivered directly an not obli uely to the flange, the outer end of the mem er is provided'with a li' 28 which,

is at an angle to the length of t e member 27' and of suflicient width to position the outer end of the member 27 at the sameheight above the plate54'as the upper surface of the flange "-Nuts 29 on the threaded studs 26 to'engage the members 27 and, through them, exert, when tightened the necessary pressure on the flange 22.

When'the operator has occasion to placea tube in. the machine, he first places the plate 4 over the glass end of the tube, the opening 11 surrounding the tube, and the water jacket restin upon the lugs 25, with the heads of the be ts 24 projecting-into the holes 11. He then places the clamping members 27 upon .the studs 26 and fastens them in-place by-the wing-nuts 29. Tightening these wing-nuts makes a firm, connection between the tube and the plate. If several tubes are associatedwith one plate each is placed in position in' the manner just described.

The tubes-and plate are then lifted as a unit. "The, large area of the plate relative to the tubes serves as a guard, making .it unlikely that the operator will strike the.

glass of the .tube against any part of the apparatus. I

When inserting the tubes in place, the operator places the notch 5 astride of the one 0 V the engaging members 3. The plate with its-tubes is falrly heavy and the operation of getting-it into place without a ide is I diflicult. For this reason, the flare mouth of the notch 5 is of greatassis'tance. While the one end of the late, with its tubes, is held in position by t e engagement between the-notch 5 and the engagingmember 3,-

- the plate is swung about the engaging memher 3 as a pivot, and'the notch 6 receives the other engaging member 3.

The positioning of the plate is thus easily I and quickl'yiaecomplished and, during sue "positionin the motion of the plate is guided, w ereby the danger of the tubes.

of said seal;

striking'against some part of the machine-is minimized.

The conductor 8 is thenplaced about the engaging member 3 and fastened thereto by the wing nut 7. .It is not necessary that each of the en aging members 3 fasten a conductor "in pface, but if two different conductors'are to be connected to the anodes of one set of tubes,the second engaging memher 3 is available for a second conductor.

Whenthe nuts 7. have been tightened,the

tubes are; secured in place in the machine.

It willtherefore be apparent that my invention provides means by which tubes may be quickly inserted in the apparatus. without risk of damageto the tubes. Changes are frequently made hurriedly, because it is desired to minimize any interruption tothe service rendered by the machine, this isof.

importance. I

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that many modifications ofthis invention are possible without departing from the Y t e specific illustration and description given herein to be construed as a limitation.

I claim as my invention i 1; In combination, a Water-jacketed tube,

having a flange between its ends and at one end of the water jacket faste ning means extending through and projecting from said flange, a supporting plate ha ing an opening to receive the unjacketed part of-said tube, and lugs on said plate extending into said opening to support said tube by engagement with said flange, said lugs being of such width as to'be received between'the project ing portions of said fastening means.

.2. In combination, a tube having a laterally-extending seal and a water jacket, a flange at one end of saidwater' jacket and between the ends of said tube,- a supporting spirit thereof. I, therefore, do not intend plate having an openingtherein of approxi- Y member having a laterally-extending lip for engaging said plate, a threaded member secured to saidplate and extending through said member and a co-operating threaded fastener for engaging said member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of J une,

' DONALD, a; LITTLE 

